Marking of a data medium material for information intended for reproduction

ABSTRACT

A method of identifying a mechanically readable medium is described. The medium, for instance a gramophone record, a magnetic tape or a celluloid film, contains information which is contained in a continuous sequence on the medium and is intended for optical or acoustic reproduction. A sequence of markings which individualizes the medium, and which can be read out together with the acoustic or optical information, is formed in the area of this acoustic or optical information.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns machine-readable data medium materials. Moreprecisely, the invention concerns the individualization of such datamedium materials or copies thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Mechanisms for reproducing (playing back) information are in the focusof many technical areas. Usually, the information which is intended forreproduction is contained on a physical medium, which is read out usingsuitable devices. The read-out information is then reproduced optically,acoustically, optically and acoustically combined, or in anotherperceivable way.

Various circumstances in connection with the handling of the medium makeidentifying it (or copies obtained therefrom) seem desirable. Thus inthe production of media, there is often the requirement to provide themedia with an individualizing identification such as a running serialnumber or batch designation. Such identification makes it easiersubsequently to determine production sites, production parameters, salesroutes, media copies (and/or the corresponding master media), etc.

In general, the medium is identified by, for instance, a serial numberbeing applied to a surface of the medium using suitable printing orengraving techniques. To avoid affecting the reproduction of theinformation, care is taken that the identification is applied separatelyfrom those areas of the medium which contain information which isintended for reproduction.

In practice, it has been found that traditional identifications arefrequently manipulated, intentionally and unintentionally.

The invention is based on the object of giving an improved approach tothe identification of a machine-readable medium which containsinformation intended for reproduction.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a method ofmarking a machine-readable medium containing information which iscontained in a continuous sequence on the medium and is intended forreproduction, a sequence of markings which individualizes the medium,and which can be read out together with the information intended forreproduction, being formed in the area of the information intended forreproduction.

This approach makes it possible to link the markings which are providedto identify the medium (whether an original or a copy thereof) uniquelyto the information intended for reproduction. The consequence of thelinkage can be a medium-individualizing change of the informationintended for reproduction, so that the reproduction of the informationis also changed in a medium-individualizing way.

The information which is contained on the medium can be reproduced(i.e., played back) optically, acoustically, optically and acousticallycombined, or in another way. The information intended for reproductioncan therefore be sound information or picture (image) information. It isalso conceivable that the medium contains both sound and associatedpicture information.

The medium can contain the information intended for reproduction invarious formats. The information intended for reproduction can be, forinstance, analog information. It is also possible that the mediumprovides the information intended for reproduction in a digital format.Digital information can be converted into an analog format before beingreproduced.

The markings on the medium can be formed simultaneously with theapplication of the information intended for reproduction. In this case,the markings can therefore be contained in the information intended forreproduction. However, it is also possible to form the markings on themedium separately in time from the application of the informationintended for reproduction. This means that the markings may be formed onthe medium already before or only after the application of theinformation intended for reproduction.

The markings can be formed in very varied ways. The formation of themarkings can include a change of magnetic, mechanical or opticalproperties of the medium. A simultaneous change of several of theseproperties of the medium is also possible. As an example, the markingsmay be formed by simultaneously changing the mechanical and opticalproperties of the medium. As already mentioned, the markings can beformed in such a way that they can be read out together with theinformation intended for reproduction. In general, it is thereforeuseful that both the markings and the information intended forreproduction are formed by changing the same property or properties ofthe medium.

The markings can be formed by mechanical operations on the medium or bya non-contact method. Non-contact formation of markings is possible, forinstance, using a laser.

According to another aspect of the present invention, amechanically-readable medium is provided for information which iscontained in a continuous sequence on the medium and which is intendedfor reproduction. In the area of the information intended forreproduction, a sequence of markings which individualizes the medium isformed, and can be read out together with the information intended forreproduction.

As far as the physical form of the medium is concerned, variouspossibilities are available. For compatibility reasons, it is useful ifthe medium according to the invention is in the form of a traditionaldata medium. If considerations of compatibility can be neglected, othermedia can also be used. The medium can have a substantially planar shape(e.g. be disc-shaped or tape-shaped).

The information intended for reproduction, with the associated markings,can be read out by means of traditional equipment. Magnetic, mechanicalor optical reading methods can be used.

As already explained, the markings are formed in a sequence whichindividualizes the medium in the area of the information intended forreproduction. This means that the sequence of markings has a function toidentify the medium. The markings are preferably not directly readable,individually or as a whole. To fulfil this requirement, the sequence ofmarkings can represent an identification code. The identification codecan be a binary code, a grid code or a barcode.

In the case of a binary code, in a sequence of markings, individualmarkings may be deliberately formed or not formed. The binary code maytherefore be determined by the presence or absence of individualmarkings. A barcode is a sequence of markings of different thickness,i.e. different spatial extent. Other coding types which can beimplemented using a sequence of markings can also be used to identifythe medium.

The markings can be formed on the medium in such a way that there islittle or no interference with the perception of the reproducedinformation by an audience. Therefore, to capture the markings (whichare contained in the information intended for reproduction) foridentification, it may be useful to use special capture techniques.Often, such capture techniques run fully automatically.

So that the sensory perception of the reproduced information is not, ornot noticeably, affected, a single one of the markings may affect thereproduced information for less than 250 ms, and particularly less than100 ms. In general, it is possible to speak of an unperceivable orhardly perceivable effect on the reproduced information, depending onthe speed at which the information intended for reproduction is readout, if the extent of a single one of the markings, perpendicularly to aread-out direction, is less than about 500μm, and particularly less thanabout 200μm.

The sequence of markings which individualizes the medium can be formedonly once (e.g. at a unique location) on the medium. However, formingthe sequence of markings several times, spatially displaced, on themedium can also be considered.

According to a variation of the invention, on the medium, analoginformation intended for reproduction is contained in a first section,and digital information intended for reproduction is contained in atleast one second section. The sequence of markings which individualizesthe medium can be formed exclusively in the first section, i.e. in thearea of the analog information intended for reproduction, exclusively inthe second area or simultaneously in both areas.

The analog and digital information can correspond to each other. Inother words, the analog and digital information can be providedredundantly and the content can agree. This would be useful, forinstance, if the second section of the medium (with the digitalinformation) is used as the primary information source, and the firstsection (with the analog information) as the secondary (or redundant)information source. The secondary information source can be provided forthose cases in which the primary information source is unavailable, oronly available with restrictions, or the technical means which arepresent for reading out only make it possible to read out the analoginformation. Of course, forming the markings in the second section ofthe medium instead of the first section could also be considered. Thisprocedure would be conceivable, for instance, if the first sectionfunctions as the primary information source.

The digital information corresponding to the analog information, in thearea of which the markings are formed, may be absent and/or unreadable.By omitting the digital information or making it unreadable in places,or by other steps, a transition from the primary to the secondaryinformation source can be enforced. In this way, reading out the analoginformation in places is achieved simultaneously with reading out thesequence of markings which individualizes the medium.

Where the unreadable digital information is (or was) formed, the mediumcan have subsequently changed optical properties. Thus in a first step,the digital information can be associated with the medium, and in asubsequent second step, the digital information can be mechanically oroptically changed in places (e.g. using mechanical devices or a laser).

The first medium section, which contains the analog information, can bean optical sound track, and the second medium section, which containsthe digital information, can be a digital sound track. Multiple digitalsound tracks can also be provided simultaneously. In this case, one,some or all digital sound tracks may be absent and/or unreadable inplaces. The digital sound track at a location which is adjacent to or inthe proximity of the markings may be absent and/or unreadable. Forexample, the digital sound track may be absent and/or unreadable in aportion that corresponds information-wise to the portion of the analogdata where the markings have been placed (although the two portions maybe spatially separated).

The invention also relates to an identified medium, which contains theinformation intended for reproduction and was obtained by copying themedium (the “master medium”) explained above. The information intendedfor reproduction (including the sequence of markings whichindividualizes the master medium) can be contained on the medium whichis obtained by copying the master medium, in a changed format. Forexample, the information intended for reproduction no longer has to becontained on the copy in a continuous sequence. It would also beconceivable that the copying includes formatting mechanisms such as, forinstance, analog/digital conversion. Whereas the information intendedfor reproduction can be present on the master medium in, for instance,an analog format, it can be stored on the medium which is obtained bycopying the master medium (e.g. a CD, a CD-ROM, a DVD or a DVD-ROM) indigital form.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a method of identifyinga master medium, like a master medium on which a copy is based, is madeavailable. The method may comprise the steps of reading out theinformation which is contained on the available medium (the mastermedium or the copy), and intended for reproduction, in an area which isprovided with the markings, of evaluating the read-out information todetermine the sequence of markings, and of identifying the master mediumon the basis of the determined sequence of markings.

The evaluation of the read-out information can include reproducing theread-out information and analyzing the reproduced information. Thismeans that the sequence of markings can, for example, be determined notdirectly on the basis of the read-out information, but on the basis ofthe information which is reproduced, for instance acoustically oroptically. To determine the sequence of markings in the read-out orreproduced information, image and/or spectrum analysis can be used.Additionally, mechanisms such as picture and/or sound filtering can beapplied.

The sequence of markings can be determined on the basis of referenceinformation. If no marked reference information is available,identification of the individual markings is possible on the basis of acomparison of the information which is read out from the medium, andwhich is intended for reproduction or already reproduced, with thisreference information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Further advantages and details of the invention are given by thefollowing description of preferred embodiments and by the figures.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a medium according to the invention,in the form of a gramophone record;

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of a medium according to the invention,in the form of a magnetic tape;

FIG. 3 a shows a third embodiment of a medium according to theinvention, in the form of a celluloid film;

FIG. 3 b shows a modification of the third embodiment according to FIG.3 a;

FIG. 4 shows another modification of the third embodiment according toFIG. 3 a; and

FIG. 5 shows a measured diagram for determining the sequence of markingswhich is contained in the reproduced sound information.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following, preferred embodiments of media according to theinvention, and identification methods according to the invention formedia, are explained.

FIG. 1 shows a first medium according to the invention for analog soundinformation in the form of a gramophone record 10. In the case of therecord 10, the sound information is contained in a continuous sequence(e.g. as a song) and in logical succession in the area of a spiralgroove. More precisely, the sound information is defined by thestructural properties (elevations/depressions) of the groove.

In FIG. 1, a section of the spiral groove 12 is shown enlarged. Forclarity, the sound information, i.e. the elevations and depressionswhich are formed in the area of the groove 12, are not shown. On theother hand, a sequence of markings 14, which is formed in the groove 12and thus in the area of the sound information, is depicted. The markings14 are not shown to scale in relation to the groove 12. In fact, themarkings 14 are in such a form that the effect on the reproduction ofthe sound information when the record 10 is played on a record player ishardly perceptible to a listener. To avoid affecting the enjoyment ofthe music, for instance, the markings 14 can be formed in a quiettransition section between two successive titles. On the other hand, ifthe markings are to be acoustically hidden to a large extent, providingthe markings 14 within a title can be considered.

As is shown by FIG. 1, the sequence of markings 14 can be interpreted asa binary code 16. With reference to a read-out direction which isidentified by the arrow A, the markings 14 in the example case of FIG. 1form the binary number 1 1 1 0 1 0 1. This binary number corresponds tothe decimal number 117. In other words, the identification 117 isassigned to the record 10. This identification can be, for instance, aserial number or a batch designation.

The markings 14 are formed mechanically or by a non-contact method usinga laser. The markings 14 were formed after the record 10 was pressed.However, it would also be possible to form the markings 14 when therecord 10 is pressed, and thus simultaneously with the soundinformation.

As is shown by FIG. 1, the individual markings 14 extend substantiallyperpendicularly to the read-out direction A. The width of one of themarkings, perpendicularly to the read-out direction A, is less thanabout 50 μm.

When the sound information which is contained on the record 10 isreproduced, it is changed in a way which individualizes the record 10when the needle of the record player traces, i.e. reads, the sequence ofmarkings 14.

In FIG. 2, a section of a second embodiment of a medium according to theinvention, in the form of a magnetic tape 10, is shown. In thefollowing, identical reference numbers will be used for the same or likecomponents.

On the magnetic tape 10, analog or digital sound and/or pictureinformation is recorded. This information intended for reproduction iscontained on the magnetic tape 10 in a continuous sequence along theread-out direction which is identified by the arrow A.

As can be taken from FIG. 2, in the area of the information intended forreproduction a twice repeated sequence of markings 14 is formed. Themarkings 14 were obtained by a local change of the magnetic propertiesof the magnetic tape 10, and formed after the information intended forreproduction was recorded. For clarity, the individual markings 14 inFIG. 2 are shown as hatched ellipses. In reality, the markings 14 cannotbe detected visually.

As already explained in connection with FIG. 1, the sequence of markings14 represents a binary code 16. More precisely, the sequence of markings14 stands for the binary number 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 (decimal 117). Thesequence of markings 14 is therefore suitable for identifying themagnetic tape 10 in individualizing fashion.

The sequence of markings 14 is read out when the magnetic tape 10 isplayed, together with the information intended for reproduction, andmakes itself noticeable in a way which individualizes the magnetic tape10 when the information is reproduced. The geometrical dimensions of themarkings 14 and the strength of the change of the magnetic properties inthe area of the markings 14 are chosen in such a way that there islittle or no effect on the perception of the reproduced information bythe audience.

In FIG. 3 a, a third embodiment of a medium according to the invention,in the form of a celluloid film 10, which has the shape of a tape,provided with analog sound and picture information, and for reproductionusing a film projector, is shown. The sound information is in the formof an optical sound track 20 in a continuous sequence. The pictureinformation is also contained in a continuous sequence, e.g. as a cinemafilm, in a section 22 which is adjacent to the optical sound track 20.

In FIG. 3 a, it can clearly be seen that in the area of the opticalsound track 20, a sequence of parallel, bar-shaped markings 14 isformed. From the point of view of a read-out direction A, the sequenceof markings 14 can be interpreted as a binary code, and more preciselyas the binary number 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 (decimal 117). The markings 14 whichare formed in the area of the optical sound track 20, for instancesubsequently mechanically or using a laser, can be interpreted as achange to the optical properties of the celluloid film. In the case ofoptical reading-out of the optical sound track 20 and the subsequentreproduction of the read-out sound, the markings 14 which are containedin the read-out sound information therefore make themselves noticeablein a way which individualizes the celluloid film 10.

The markings which are formed in the area of the optical sound track 20have an extent, perpendicularly to the read-out direction A, oftypically 50 to 250 μm. On the one hand to ensure high recognitionprobability, and on the other hand to avoid affecting the soundreproduction noticeably, a marking width of about 80 to 120 μm has beenshown to be particularly useful.

Alternatively or additionally to the provision of a sequence of markingsin the area of the optical sound track 20, such markings can also beformed in a section 24 of the picture (or image) area 22. The markings14 can be contained in a single picture or in a sequence of multiplepictures. The markings change the optical properties of the celluloidfilm in the section 24 of the picture area 22. In the case of (optical)reading out of the picture information, therefore, the sequence ofmarkings in the section 24 is read out simultaneously with the picture(and/or acoustical) information.

The markings which are formed in the section 24 of the picture area 22can be a sequence of bars, as shown in FIG. 3 a. However, as shown inFIG. 3 b, the sequence of markings can also be a grid pattern. Such agrid pattern has the advantage that it has a less interfering effect onthe reproduced picture information. Additionally, the grid pattern whichis shown in FIG. 3 b allows stronger individualization, because the gridpattern makes a higher number of individual codes available.

The grid pattern which is shown as an example in FIG. 3 b consists ofindividual code columns or rows, each of which corresponds to a binarycode. Thus the third code column from the right of the code patterncorresponds to the binary number 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 0, etc.

The individual markings can be formed on the medium in such a way thatthey occur sequentially in the reproduced information. This is so, forinstance, in the case of the embodiment according to FIG. 3 a, for themarkings 14 which are formed in the area of the optical sound track 20.The individual markings occur in succession in the reproduced sound. Onthe other hand, it is also conceivable that the totality of theindividual markings occurs simultaneously in the reproduced information.This can be the case if the markings are included in picture information(the section 24 in FIGS. 3 a and 3 b). However, it would also beconceivable that the individual markings of the marking sequence occurin succession in the picture information, and are thus reproduced attime intervals. This has the advantage that the perception of thereproduced picture information is less affected.

In FIG. 4, a modification of the embodiment which has been describedwith reference to FIG. 3 a is shown. Corresponding elements are againidentified by corresponding reference symbols.

As is shown by FIG. 4, on the medium 10, which is in the form of acelluloid film, as well as a first section with analog informationintended for reproduction, i.e. the optical sound track 20, there aretwo further sections 30, 32, each of which contains digital informationintended for reproduction. Each of these two further sections is adigital sound track 30, 32, which runs parallel to the optical soundtrack 20. The digital sound track 30, which is formed quite on the edgeof the medium 10, is half an SDDS sound track (the other half isarranged on the opposite edge of the medium 10 and not shown in FIG. 4).The second digital sound track 32, which is formed between theperforations which are used to transport the film, is an SRD soundtrack.

Additionally, a sound control track 40 (such as a DTS time code track)is provided on the medium 10. The control track 40 is scanned duringreproduction and sent to a DTS play back device. Based on the controlinformation thus received, the DTS play back device synchronizes thereproduction of picture information with the reproduction of soundinformation that is read from a DTS CD rom.

The sets of information which are contained in the altogether threesound tracks 20, 30 and 32 or that can be derived from the controlinformation read from the time code track 40 agree with each otherredundantly. For this reason, usually only one of the tracks, often theSRD sound track 32, is read out. The analog sound track 20 is read outonly if a read-out device (e.g. a film projector) does not allow thetracks 30, 32, 40 to be read out, or if the tracks 30, 32, 40 are dirty,defective or otherwise unreadable. In other words, the optical soundtrack 20 is often used as a “fallback solution”.

As can be taken from FIG. 4, the digital sound tracks 30, 32 and thetime code track 40 at the locations adjacent to the markings 14 of theoptical sound track 20 are removed, or reading out was prevented atthese locations (strictly speaking the portions of the tracks 30, 32 and40 that correspond information-wise to the portions of the analog datain which the markings are formed are rendered illegible). For thispurpose, speck-like changes 34, 36, 38 and 42 were made in the twodigital sound tracks 30, 32 and the time code track 40 by means of alaser. Alternatively, stripe-like changes may be made by scratching,cutting or the like. Not applying the tracks 30, 32, 40 at the locations34, 36, 38 and 42 during manufacture, or making the tracks 30, 32, 40unreadable at the locations 34, 36, 38 and 42 by mechanical means (bynicking, scraping, etc.), could also be considered.

The effect of the absence or illegibility of digital sound informationor time code information at the locations 34, 36, 38 and 42 is that theread-out device falls back on the optical sound track 20 at thelocations 34, 36, 38 and 42 and reads out the analog information whichis formed there. Simultaneously with the analog information, thesequence of markings 14 (as described above) is also read out. Readingout one or both of the digital sound tracks 30, 32 as well as the timecode track 40 is therefore deliberately prevented, to cause thecompulsory reading out (and compulsory reproduction) of the markingsequence 14.

The embodiment according to FIG. 4 is particularly interesting if adigital correction procedure removes (e.g. by interpolation) faults in adigital information track as they are generated by the sequence ofmarkings. If no correction procedure were to be used, the sequence ofmarkings could also be applied (exclusively or additionally) in one ofthe digital information tracks.

Below, a method of identifying one of the media which has been explainedwith reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, or a copy of it, is explained in moredetail. It is assumed here that the sequence of markings whichindividualizes the medium is formed in the area of the soundinformation, and is read out together with the sound information. It isalso assumed that the location at which the sequence of markings iscontained in the sound information is known.

If the sound information has been read out of an area of the mediumwhich is provided with the markings, this information is subjecteddirectly, or after being reproduced and acoustically captured, tospectrum analysis in a spectrum analyzer. Simultaneously, suitable soundfiltering is carried out. Corresponding reference sound information(which acoustically does not include the markings) is subjected to thesame preparation mechanisms as the read-out sound information. Thereference sound information which is prepared in this way is thensubtracted from the prepared read-out sound information.

The result of the subtraction is shown in FIG. 5. The sequence ofindividual peaks, corresponding to the sequence of markings (in theexample according to FIG. 5, 8 successive markings =binary 1 1 1 1 1 11 1) which is contained in the read-out sound information, can clearlybe seen. The position, height and width of the peaks (i.e. pitch/volume)can be deliberately influenced by the spacing, intensity anddimensioning of the markings which are formed on the medium. The volumeof the markings is usefully at least 5 dB, and preferably at least 10dB, above the background volume level of the reference information.

Although the sequence of markings in the read-out sound signal isimperceptible or hardly perceptible to an audience, by suitable methodsthe sequence of markings can thus be determined, and the present mediumcan be uniquely identified, at any time. A special feature of the methodis that the identification which is assigned once to a master medium isretained even when the master medium is replicated, and in particularwhen the data format of the acoustic information is changed (e.g.analog−>digital).

The embodiments which are explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4illustrate the ideas on which the invention is based, but cannot beinterpreted restrictively. In particular, other information media andother markings may come to be used. The arrangement of the informationintended for reproduction on the medium may also be chosen differentlyfrom the embodiments. Arranging the information which is contained in acontinuous sequence at separate locations of the medium, at a distancefrom each other, is thus conceivable. By means of suitable read-outmechanisms, it is possible to ensure even in this case that thecontinuous information which is read out at different locations isactually also reproduced continuously. However, if only simpler read-outmechanisms are available, logical stringing together of the continuousinformation sequence on the medium is often unavoidable.

While the invention has been described in detail and with reference tospecific embodiments thereof, if will be apparent to one skilled in theart that various changes and modifications can be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope thereof. Thus, it is intended thatthe present invention cover the modifications and variations of thisinvention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims andtheir equivalents.

1. A method of marking a machine-readable medium containing informationwhich is included in a continuous sequence on the medium and is intendedfor reproduction, comprising the step of forming a sequence of markingswhich individualizes the medium, and which can be read out together withthe information intended for reproduction, in an area of the informationintended for reproduction.
 2. The method according to claim 1, whereinthe markings are formed in such a way that the reproduction of theinformation is changed in a way which individualizes the medium.
 3. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the information intended forreproduction is sound information.
 4. The method according to claim 1,wherein the information intended for reproduction is image information.5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the information intended forreproduction is analog information.
 6. The method according to claim 1,wherein the markings are formed on the medium separately in time fromthe information intended for reproduction.
 7. The method according toclaim 1, wherein the markings are formed by changing optical propertiesof the medium.
 8. A film medium, in which information is contained in acontinuous sequence for reproduction, comprising: a sequence of markingsformed on the film medium in an area of the information intended forreproduction, which markings individualize the medium, and wherein saidmarkings are readable together with the information intended forreproduction.
 9. The film medium of claim 8, wherein the sequence ofmarkings is an identification code.
 10. The film medium of claim 8,wherein said sequence of markings is formed such that the reproductionof said sequence of markings has little or no effect on the perceptionof the reproduced information by an audience.
 11. The film medium ofclaim 8, wherein at least one of said sequence of markings extendsperpendicular to a travel direction of said film medium.
 12. The filmmedium of claim 8, wherein said sequence of markings is a sequence ofparallel bars.